Source: Read pages 76 and 77 in your online textbook Directions: Review Pages 76-77 and choose one of the groups below. Research the group you have chosen (two links are provided for each already) and complete The Characteristics of Civilization Chart for the civilization you have chosen. Write clear and detailed answers in the chart, on your wiki page.
Characteristics of Civilization.
Civilization Name: Assyrians
Six Characteristics of Civilization
Evidence for Characteristic
Explanation
1. A system of government that directs and controls
some actions of the members of the society.
"Under their king Tukulti-Ninurta I (known in the book of Genesis
as Nimrod), about 1225 BC"
This shows that there was a monarchy in the Assyrian government.
2. A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly
change.
The Assyrians had an irrigation system. "The Assyrian kings now built highways and bridges and water systems"
This means that their civilization has farming - a regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change.
3. Specialization of labor, in which members of the
society perform different jobs.
"The key to the Assyrians’ success was their strong army."
This shows that there were people who fought in the armies, and that is an example of specialization of labor.
4. Different social levels, in which some members
of the society are given higher status than others.
"Assyrian kings" There were kings.
^
|
This suggests that there are kings, and in a monarchy this is one of the highest classes, so it is evidence that there are different social levels in Assyrian culture.
5. A highly developed culture including art, archite-
cture, music, literature, science, and writing.
"and encouraged scholarship and art with great libraries at their palaces"
This shows that there is a highly developed culture - art and great libraries and palaces are all evidence of this.
6. A religious system, which might include priests
and temples.
"Ashurism was, of course, the first religion of the Assyrians."
This tells that there is a religious system in the Assyrian culture.
Was it difficult to find evidence for the culture you picked? Why or why not?
Source: Read pages 74 and 75 in your online textbook Directions: Read the questions/directions carefully and write clear and detailed answers on your wiki page.
1. Read the "If you were there..." section on page 74. How will you advise the King?
If I were there, I would advise the king fairly and to say that normal people should be treated the same as nobles. A long time ago, people thought people with little or no money were nothing, so they ignored them and hindered them. To the nobles they were kind and generous. I believe this is a kind of early racism. People should treat other people with kindness. So if I was there, that was what I would say to the king.
2. What happened to Ur by 2000 BCE?
By 2000 BCE, Ur was in ruins because of the deluge of invaders and conquerors.
3. Where was Babylon located?
Babylon was located near the Euphrates River which is now Baghdad, Iraq.
4. Who became the king of Babylon? When did he become king?
Hammurabi was the king of Babylon. He became the king of Babylon at 1792 BCE.
5. What is a monarch?
A monarch is a ruler of a kingdom or empire.
6. After conquering all of Mesopotamia, what did Hammurabi call his empire?
After conquering all of Mesopotamia, Hammurabi called his empire the Babylon empire after his capital.
7. Hammurabi was a great warrior and leader. What other skills did he have?
Hammurabi was a great warrior and leader, but he was also a good leader.
8. What is Hammurabi's Code? What areas of daily life did the code cover?
Hammurabi's Code was a set of 282 laws that dealt with almost every part of daily life.
11. Read the different laws in the Code of Hammurabi on this site and choose three that you think are interesting. Copy the three laws and their numbers onto your page. Then for each law, explain why you think it's interesting. You can write about if you disagree or agree with the law or if you think the law is a good law or a cruel law.
2. If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.
This law is interesting because it obviously comes from a story or religion. I think this law is rather pointless. Even if the accused man was innocent, his life hung on luck. I don't think that this is a very reasonable law.
13. (There is no 13th Law because, then as now, the number 13 was considered to be an unlucky and evil number. See LAWMuseum Archives.)
Although this is not a Law, this is very interesting. It shows that 13 was an unlucky and evil number before christianity or many other religions. I disagree with this point, for there is not really a need of religion in civilizations, though it is in the 6 rules. There should be a 13th law, unlucky or not.
202. If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public.
The law is interesting because it is a form of prejudice and early racism, as many laws in Hammurabi's Code. This law is quite cruel because he has to be humiliated and caused pain, just because the person he has striked is higher rank than him.
Assignment 2-6
After playing the Trader's Circuit, answer the following questions in complete sentences on your page. You can copy and paste these questions into your page. Then copy and paste your questions and answers onto your discussion tab. Then go to the discussion tabs of at least three other classmates and make good quality middle school comments about your classmates answers to the questions about the Trader's Circuit game. You can make comments to your classmates like if you agree or disagree or comments about how good their answers and ideas are. Trader's Circuit questions 1. What part of the game did you like the best? Why?
The part of the game I liked the best was the trading part. It is interesting and I like to do things like that.
2. During the game, how did you feel and why did you feel that way?
During the game, I felt a little rushed because everyone was shouting and it was confusing.
3. What part of the game was difficult for you?
Communication was the hardest part of the game for me. Everyone was yelling so it was hard to talk.
4. In your opinion, what advantage is there to having a monopoly of an entire product/resource such as dates or jewelry?
The advantage of having a monopoly is that YOU are in charge of the prices. There is nowhere else so you can lower/raise the prices at your will.
5. What part of the game would you change if you played it again? Why?
The part of the game I would change if I played it again would that we would work together to pool in our resources.
6. In this game, was it better to cooperate with another player or to be selfish and try to get all the products/resources for yourself? Why?
In this game, it was better to cooperate with another player because you have someone to depend on. When you are alone, it feels unsafe and unsecure.
Assignment 2-5
Use your online textbook pages 63 & 64 to answer these questions clearly and with details on your wiki page. Make sure to look through the whole page in your textbook and the links for the vocabulary when answering some of the questions.
Where did the Akkadians live?
The Akkadians lived just north of Sumer, the Fertile Crescent.
What was their relationship with the Sumerians like before the 2300s B.C.E.?
Before the 2300s BCE, the two countries’ relationship was quite peaceful. Even though they had many differences, they weren’t many fights.
Who was Sargon and what did he do?
Sargon was an emperor of Akkad. He fought many and extended his empire greatly.
What did Sargon establish?
Sargon established one of the very first empires ever.
Define 'empire'.
land with different territories and peoples under a single rule.
Explain two examples why Sargon is considered a great leader.
Two examples why Sargon is considered a great leader are a)he had the loyalty of his soldiers, and b)he was one of the first to have an army who used bows and arrows for weapons.
How long did Sargon rule his empire?
Sargon ruled his empire for about 50 years.
What eventually happened to the Akkadian Empire?
Eventually, the Akkadian Empire fell because future rulers could not keep up with the continuous enemy attacks.
Who eventually became the most powerful civilization in Mesopotamia again?
Eventually, Sumer became the most powerful civilization in Mesopotamia again.
10. Using the picture of the City-State of Ur, what can you see in the picture that shows Ur was an advanced city?
I can see that the City-State of Ur is a powerful and advanced city because there are many walls, barriers, and buildings.
Assignment 2-4
Using The Six Characteristics of a Civilization (see below), answer the following questions clearly and with details on your wiki page.
1. Is Korea/ the U.S. a civilization according to the six characteristics explained in class? Provide one example from Korea/the U.S. for each characteristic.
The U.S. is somewhat a civilization according to the six characteristics explained in class.
1. A system of government that directs and controls some actions of the members of society.
The U.S. has a democracy, a president, and three different branches that control most of the country.
2. A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change.
The U.S. has a stable, regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change. There are many farmers, butchers, etc.
3. Specialization of labor, in which members of the society perform different jobs.
The U.S. has a specialization of labor. Some people are entirely potters, some people just sit behind a desk all day and yell at people.
4. Different social levels, in which some members of the society are given higher status than others.
The U.S. has different social levels. There are beggars with no money, and snooty high-ups who do nothing all day but mope around and sip champagne while being extremely bored.
5. A highly developed culture including art, architecture, music, literature, science, and writing.
The U.S. has a somewhat highly developed culture; although it has been around only 300~400 years. The U.S. has their own style of music; the blues; though they were inspired by African tunes.
6. A religious system, which might include priests and temples.
The U.S. doesn't force people to attend religious rites, though christianity is popular.
2. Does a civilization, in your opinion, need to have all of the characteristics mentioned? Why or why not?
In my opinion, a civilization doesn't need to have ALL the characteristics mentioned. For example, you don't really need a religious system, do you? Sure, it may be an extra, but how many people have died every year from sacrifices and witch-stakes??
The Six Characteristics of a Civilization:
1. A system of government that directs and controls some actions of the members of the society.
2. A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change.
3. Specialization of labor, in which members of the society perform different jobs.
4. Different social levels, in which some members of the society are given higher status than others.
5. A highly developed culture including art, architecture, music, literature, science, and writing.
6. A religious system, which might include priests and temples.
Assignment 2-3
Please read pages 56-59 from your online textbook and answer these questions clearly and in complete sentences on your wiki page.
1. How did the Fertile Crescent get its name?
The Fertile Crescent got its name because it is a wide, huge arc of rich and fertile farmland.
2. What was the most important factor in making Mesopotamia's farmland fertile?
The most important factor in making Mesopotamia's farmland fertile was the irrigation systems.
3. In what ways did a Division of Labor contribute to the growth of Mesopotamiam civilization?
The Division of Labor contributed to the growth of Mesopotamian civilizations because if there wasn't a Division, everyone would have farmed, and then there wouldn't be anybody who would have done something else to focus on something other than food.
4. How might running large projects like the maintaining a large and complex irrigation system prepare people for running a government?
Running large projects help people to prepare for running a government because a large project is running a government. There are people in charge, who plan, and tell people, and underlings, who work.
Assignment 2-2
Answer the following questions and define the vocabulary (if any) clearly and with details on your wiki page. Use the links above from the In Class Activity 2-1 called Event C:Building and Maintaining a Complex Irrigation System & Event D: Attacks by Neighboring Communities to help you answer the questions.
Event C: Building and Maintaining a Complex Irrigation System
1. What was the first simple method farmers used to get water to their fields from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?
The first simple method farmers used to get water to their fields from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was to carry buckets of water to the fields. Later, this proved too difficult to manage.
2. How did farmers prevent flooding?
Farmers prevented flooding by building levees, dikes, and other water-controlling devices.
3. Over time, carrying buckets of water to the fields was too difficult. Please clearly explain how levees, canals, dams, and reservoirs were used to make life easier for farmers?
Levees, canals, dams, and reservoirs made life easier for farmers in many ways. One, the farmers did not have to carry buckets of water to water the fields. Levees prevented the river from flooding too much, canals carried water with ease, dams directed water where the farmers wanted it to go, and reservoirs let farmers store water.
4. Which word means an extra supply of something such as food?
The word that means "extra supply of something such as food" is "surplus".
5. What could happen if one canal was clogged?
If one canal was clogged, it could destroy the whole system because all the canals and waterways were connected to each other.
6. How did different villages take care of the complex irrigation system?
Different villages took care of the complex irrigation systems by cooperating with each other to maintain the complex irrigation system.
Event D: Attacks by Neighboring Communities
1. How did Mesopotamian villages help each other?
Mesopotamian villages helped each other by building and maintaining the water systems together.
2. How were people, who lived very far apart, connected to each other?
People who lived very far apart were connected to each other by the irrigation canals that wound through the city.
3. What did many villages grow into?
Many villages grew into towns and cities.
4. What do we call the region in Mesopotamia that had many growing cities and towns? What are the people called that come from this region?
We call the region in Mesopotamia that had many growing cities and towns Sumer, and the people who came from that region were called Sumerians.
5. How could one city stop the water from reaching another city?
One city could stop the water from reaching another city by building new canals or blocking the canals of another city's water source.
6. Why was it easy to attack other cities on the Mesopotamian plains?
It was easy to attack other cities on the Mesopotamian plains because it was all flat, open land. There were no mountains or rivers to block enemies in their paths; the plains were easy places to attack and cross.
7. What defense plan is best to protect a city?
In my opinion, the best defense plan to protect a city is to build high walls around it so nobody can get in. The fields will probably be included, so people could work. If we had resources, I would slather mass amounts of oil so people cannot easily set up a battering ram, and if they try to light a fire, they will die.
Assignment 2-1
Answer the following questions and define the vocabulary (if any) clearly and with details on your wiki page.Use the links above from the Class Activityto help you answer the questions.
Event A: Food Shortage
1. What helped the human population to grow in Mesopotamia?
Farming in the Zagros hills helped the human population grow in Mesopotamia. The fertile land, mild weather, and many rainfalls helped them have great harvests.
2. What does cultivate mean?
Cultivate is another word for farm or grow.
3. By 5000 B.C.E. what major problem did the farmers in the Zagros hills have?
By 5000 B.C.E., the human population grew so high that the farmers in the Zagros hills could not harvest enough food to sustain the ever-growing population.
4. Using the choices in the critical thinking section of the activity, what is the best way to deal with the food shortage? Why?
I think the best choice is to move to the plains and try to grow crops there. Using good strategy, dams, and an enormous population, these people could build a sophisticated water irrigation system.
Event B: Uncontrolled Water Supply
1. What two major problems did farmers have as they tried to grow their crops on the Mesopotamian river plains?
As the farmer tried to grow crops on the Mesopotamian river plains, they faced many problems. One of them is the hot, cracked, dry land, hardened with the hot wind. It is very hard to grow crops in such land. Another one of the problems was the unpredictable water. One year, it might wash the land perfectly, and make the land fertile. The next year,
2. How did they solve these problems?
The farmers solved these problems by making dams, probably using the massive population of people.
3. Where did the melted snow that caused flooding come from?
The melted snow that caused flooding came from the Zagros hills. When the rain fell, it washed the snow down until the snow swirled into the river, causing massive floods and troubles for the people in the villages.
Assignment 2-8
Source: Read pages 76 and 77 in your online textbookDirections: Review Pages 76-77 and choose one of the groups below. Research the group you have chosen (two links are provided for each already) and complete The Characteristics of Civilization Chart for the civilization you have chosen. Write clear and detailed answers in the chart, on your wiki page.
Characteristics of Civilization.
Civilization Name: Assyrians
Six Characteristics of Civilization
Evidence for Characteristic
Explanation
some actions of the members of the society.
as Nimrod), about 1225 BC"
change.
society perform different jobs.
of the society are given higher status than others.
^
|
cture, music, literature, science, and writing.
and temples.
Assyrians
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/westasia/history/assyrians.htmhttp://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/egypt/a/assyriaintro.htm
Hittites
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/HITTITES.HTMhttp://www.historyforkids.org/learn/westasia/history/hittites.htm
Chaldeans
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/nebuchadnezzar.htmlhttp://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/CHALDEAN.HTM
Assignment 2-7
Source: Read pages 74 and 75 in your online textbookDirections: Read the questions/directions carefully and write clear and detailed answers on your wiki page.
1. Read the "If you were there..." section on page 74. How will you advise the King?
If I were there, I would advise the king fairly and to say that normal people should be treated the same as nobles. A long time ago, people thought people with little or no money were nothing, so they ignored them and hindered them. To the nobles they were kind and generous. I believe this is a kind of early racism. People should treat other people with kindness. So if I was there, that was what I would say to the king.
2. What happened to Ur by 2000 BCE?
By 2000 BCE, Ur was in ruins because of the deluge of invaders and conquerors.
3. Where was Babylon located?
Babylon was located near the Euphrates River which is now Baghdad, Iraq.
4. Who became the king of Babylon? When did he become king?
Hammurabi was the king of Babylon. He became the king of Babylon at 1792 BCE.
5. What is a monarch?
A monarch is a ruler of a kingdom or empire.
6. After conquering all of Mesopotamia, what did Hammurabi call his empire?
After conquering all of Mesopotamia, Hammurabi called his empire the Babylon empire after his capital.
7. Hammurabi was a great warrior and leader. What other skills did he have?
Hammurabi was a great warrior and leader, but he was also a good leader.
8. What is Hammurabi's Code? What areas of daily life did the code cover?
Hammurabi's Code was a set of 282 laws that dealt with almost every part of daily life.
11. Read the different laws in the Code of Hammurabi on this site and choose three that you think are interesting. Copy the three laws and their numbers onto your page. Then for each law, explain why you think it's interesting. You can write about if you disagree or agree with the law or if you think the law is a good law or a cruel law.
2. If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.
This law is interesting because it obviously comes from a story or religion. I think this law is rather pointless. Even if the accused man was innocent, his life hung on luck. I don't think that this is a very reasonable law.
13. (There is no 13th Law because, then as now, the number 13 was considered to be an unlucky and evil number. See LAWMuseum Archives.)
Although this is not a Law, this is very interesting. It shows that 13 was an unlucky and evil number before christianity or many other religions. I disagree with this point, for there is not really a need of religion in civilizations, though it is in the 6 rules. There should be a 13th law, unlucky or not.
202. If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public.
The law is interesting because it is a form of prejudice and early racism, as many laws in Hammurabi's Code. This law is quite cruel because he has to be humiliated and caused pain, just because the person he has striked is higher rank than him.
Assignment 2-6
After playing the Trader's Circuit, answer the following questions in complete sentences on your page. You can copy and paste these questions into your page. Then copy and paste your questions and answers onto your discussion tab. Then go to the discussion tabs of at least three other classmates and make good quality middle school comments about your classmates answers to the questions about the Trader's Circuit game. You can make comments to your classmates like if you agree or disagree or comments about how good their answers and ideas are.Trader's Circuit questions
1. What part of the game did you like the best? Why?
The part of the game I liked the best was the trading part. It is interesting and I like to do things like that.
2. During the game, how did you feel and why did you feel that way?
During the game, I felt a little rushed because everyone was shouting and it was confusing.
3. What part of the game was difficult for you?
Communication was the hardest part of the game for me. Everyone was yelling so it was hard to talk.
4. In your opinion, what advantage is there to having a monopoly of an entire product/resource such as dates or jewelry?
The advantage of having a monopoly is that YOU are in charge of the prices. There is nowhere else so you can lower/raise the prices at your will.
5. What part of the game would you change if you played it again? Why?
The part of the game I would change if I played it again would that we would work together to pool in our resources.
6. In this game, was it better to cooperate with another player or to be selfish and try to get all the products/resources for yourself? Why?
In this game, it was better to cooperate with another player because you have someone to depend on. When you are alone, it feels unsafe and unsecure.
Assignment 2-5
Use your online textbook pages 63 & 64 to answer these questions clearly and with details on your wiki page. Make sure to look through the whole page in your textbook and the links for the vocabulary when answering some of the questions.Where did the Akkadians live?
The Akkadians lived just north of Sumer, the Fertile Crescent.
What was their relationship with the Sumerians like before the 2300s B.C.E.?
Before the 2300s BCE, the two countries’ relationship was quite peaceful. Even though they had many differences, they weren’t many fights.
Who was Sargon and what did he do?
Sargon was an emperor of Akkad. He fought many and extended his empire greatly.
What did Sargon establish?
Sargon established one of the very first empires ever.
Define 'empire'.
land with different territories and peoples under a single rule.
Explain two examples why Sargon is considered a great leader.
Two examples why Sargon is considered a great leader are a)he had the loyalty of his soldiers, and b)he was one of the first to have an army who used bows and arrows for weapons.
How long did Sargon rule his empire?
Sargon ruled his empire for about 50 years.
What eventually happened to the Akkadian Empire?
Eventually, the Akkadian Empire fell because future rulers could not keep up with the continuous enemy attacks.
Who eventually became the most powerful civilization in Mesopotamia again?
Eventually, Sumer became the most powerful civilization in Mesopotamia again.
10. Using the picture of the City-State of Ur, what can you see in the picture that shows Ur was an advanced city?
I can see that the City-State of Ur is a powerful and advanced city because there are many walls, barriers, and buildings.
Assignment 2-4
Using The Six Characteristics of a Civilization (see below), answer the following questions clearly and with details on your wiki page.
1. Is Korea/ the U.S. a civilization according to the six characteristics explained in class? Provide one example from Korea/the U.S. for each characteristic.The U.S. is somewhat a civilization according to the six characteristics explained in class.
1. A system of government that directs and controls some actions of the members of society.
The U.S. has a democracy, a president, and three different branches that control most of the country.
2. A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change.
The U.S. has a stable, regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change. There are many farmers, butchers, etc.
3. Specialization of labor, in which members of the society perform different jobs.
The U.S. has a specialization of labor. Some people are entirely potters, some people just sit behind a desk all day and yell at people.
4. Different social levels, in which some members of the society are given higher status than others.
The U.S. has different social levels. There are beggars with no money, and snooty high-ups who do nothing all day but mope around and sip champagne while being extremely bored.
5. A highly developed culture including art, architecture, music, literature, science, and writing.
The U.S. has a somewhat highly developed culture; although it has been around only 300~400 years. The U.S. has their own style of music; the blues; though they were inspired by African tunes.
6. A religious system, which might include priests and temples.
The U.S. doesn't force people to attend religious rites, though christianity is popular.
2. Does a civilization, in your opinion, need to have all of the characteristics mentioned? Why or why not?
In my opinion, a civilization doesn't need to have ALL the characteristics mentioned. For example, you don't really need a religious system, do you? Sure, it may be an extra, but how many people have died every year from sacrifices and witch-stakes??
The Six Characteristics of a Civilization:
1. A system of government that directs and controls some actions of the members of the society.
2. A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly change.
3. Specialization of labor, in which members of the society perform different jobs.
4. Different social levels, in which some members of the society are given higher status than others.
5. A highly developed culture including art, architecture, music, literature, science, and writing.
6. A religious system, which might include priests and temples.
Assignment 2-3
Please read pages 56-59 from your online textbook and answer these questions clearly and in complete sentences on your wiki page.1. How did the Fertile Crescent get its name?
The Fertile Crescent got its name because it is a wide, huge arc of rich and fertile farmland.
2. What was the most important factor in making Mesopotamia's farmland fertile?
The most important factor in making Mesopotamia's farmland fertile was the irrigation systems.
3. In what ways did a Division of Labor contribute to the growth of Mesopotamiam civilization?
The Division of Labor contributed to the growth of Mesopotamian civilizations because if there wasn't a Division, everyone would have farmed, and then there wouldn't be anybody who would have done something else to focus on something other than food.
4. How might running large projects like the maintaining a large and complex irrigation system prepare people for running a government?
Running large projects help people to prepare for running a government because a large project is running a government. There are people in charge, who plan, and tell people, and underlings, who work.
Assignment 2-2
Answer the following questions and define the vocabulary (if any) clearly and with details on your wiki page. Use the links above from the In Class Activity 2-1 called Event C: Building and Maintaining a Complex Irrigation System & Event D: Attacks by Neighboring Communities to help you answer the questions.
Event C: Building and Maintaining a Complex Irrigation System
1. What was the first simple method farmers used to get water to their fields from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?
The first simple method farmers used to get water to their fields from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was to carry buckets of water to the fields. Later, this proved too difficult to manage.
2. How did farmers prevent flooding?
Farmers prevented flooding by building levees, dikes, and other water-controlling devices.
3. Over time, carrying buckets of water to the fields was too difficult. Please clearly explain how levees, canals, dams, and reservoirs were used to make life easier for farmers?
Levees, canals, dams, and reservoirs made life easier for farmers in many ways. One, the farmers did not have to carry buckets of water to water the fields. Levees prevented the river from flooding too much, canals carried water with ease, dams directed water where the farmers wanted it to go, and reservoirs let farmers store water.
4. Which word means an extra supply of something such as food?
The word that means "extra supply of something such as food" is "surplus".
5. What could happen if one canal was clogged?
If one canal was clogged, it could destroy the whole system because all the canals and waterways were connected to each other.
6. How did different villages take care of the complex irrigation system?
Different villages took care of the complex irrigation systems by cooperating with each other to maintain the complex irrigation system.
Event D: Attacks by Neighboring Communities
1. How did Mesopotamian villages help each other?
Mesopotamian villages helped each other by building and maintaining the water systems together.
2. How were people, who lived very far apart, connected to each other?
People who lived very far apart were connected to each other by the irrigation canals that wound through the city.
3. What did many villages grow into?
Many villages grew into towns and cities.
4. What do we call the region in Mesopotamia that had many growing cities and towns? What are the people called that come from this region?
We call the region in Mesopotamia that had many growing cities and towns Sumer, and the people who came from that region were called Sumerians.
5. How could one city stop the water from reaching another city?
One city could stop the water from reaching another city by building new canals or blocking the canals of another city's water source.
6. Why was it easy to attack other cities on the Mesopotamian plains?
It was easy to attack other cities on the Mesopotamian plains because it was all flat, open land. There were no mountains or rivers to block enemies in their paths; the plains were easy places to attack and cross.
7. What defense plan is best to protect a city?
In my opinion, the best defense plan to protect a city is to build high walls around it so nobody can get in. The fields will probably be included, so people could work. If we had resources, I would slather mass amounts of oil so people cannot easily set up a battering ram, and if they try to light a fire, they will die.
Assignment 2-1
Answer the following questions and define the vocabulary (if any) clearly and with details on your wiki page. Use the links above from the Class Activity to help you answer the questions.
Event A: Food Shortage
1. What helped the human population to grow in Mesopotamia?
Farming in the Zagros hills helped the human population grow in Mesopotamia. The fertile land, mild weather, and many rainfalls helped them have great harvests.
2. What does cultivate mean?
Cultivate is another word for farm or grow.
3. By 5000 B.C.E. what major problem did the farmers in the Zagros hills have?
By 5000 B.C.E., the human population grew so high that the farmers in the Zagros hills could not harvest enough food to sustain the ever-growing population.
4. Using the choices in the critical thinking section of the activity, what is the best way to deal with the food shortage? Why?
I think the best choice is to move to the plains and try to grow crops there. Using good strategy, dams, and an enormous population, these people could build a sophisticated water irrigation system.
Event B: Uncontrolled Water Supply
1. What two major problems did farmers have as they tried to grow their crops on the Mesopotamian river plains?
As the farmer tried to grow crops on the Mesopotamian river plains, they faced many problems. One of them is the hot, cracked, dry land, hardened with the hot wind. It is very hard to grow crops in such land. Another one of the problems was the unpredictable water. One year, it might wash the land perfectly, and make the land fertile. The next year,
2. How did they solve these problems?
The farmers solved these problems by making dams, probably using the massive population of people.
3. Where did the melted snow that caused flooding come from?
The melted snow that caused flooding came from the Zagros hills. When the rain fell, it washed the snow down until the snow swirled into the river, causing massive floods and troubles for the people in the villages.